Cyclophosphamide, vincristine and procarbazine in the treatment of malignant melanoma

Patients with advanced malignant melanoma were randomly assigned to treatment with cylcophosphamide and vincristine (CV) or cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and procarbazine (CVP). The objective response rates to each regimen (CV 30%, CVP 33%) were the same. Patients with disease confined to skin, subcutaneous tissue nodes, lung, or pleura had a significantly superior response rate to that in those with disease involving liver, bone or brain. The survival of responders was superior to that of nonresponders. The efficacy and moderate toxicity of CV suggests that further work with this combination in malignant melanoma is indicated.